Inspiring colleagues celebrated at annual staff awards
Date of release: 5 March 2024
Dedicated, compassionate and inspiring teams and individuals were formally recognised for their hard work at this year’s Royal Awards.
The glitzy event took place on Friday 1 March at Grand Station in Wolverhampton, and was attended by around 200 staff, plus special guests from across the NHS and beyond.
The 38 finalists across 12 categories – spanning from ‘Rising Star’ to ‘Lifetime Achievement’ – were nominated for their many successes and hard work from the last 12 months. Almost 400 nominations were submitted by colleagues from across the organisation, as well as from patients and carers in the ‘Patient’s Choice’ category.
Professor David Loughton CBE, Group Chief Executive, and Sir David Nicholson KCB CBE, Group Chair, also personally awarded two individuals who stood out to them.
The event was Professor Loughton’s last awards ceremony as Chief Executive, as he is due to retire in April after 20 years leading the Trust. He said: “I am merely the conductor of this band – each and every one of you in this room plays the instruments and makes an incredible difference to your colleagues and the population we serve across the Black Country.
“I sincerely thank all of you for everything you have done over the last two decades, and for what I know you will continue to do.”
He was also presented with a ‘This is Your Life’ book by Dr Cheryl Etches OBE, former Chief Nurse. The book outlined key achievements from his NHS career, alongside special messages from those he has worked closely with.
Our Royal Awards 2024 winners are:- Rising Star Award: Ashleigh Key, Volunteer Co-ordinator
- Compassionate Leadership Award: Lesley Burrows, Performance Manager
- Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Award: Sunita Banga, EDI Lead Midwife and Diane Davies, Service Efficiency Project Manager
- Excellence in Research Award: Dr Shameer Gopal, ICCU Consultant Anaesthetist
- The ‘Green’ Award: Asad Atiq, SEN and Vision Screening Lead
- Healthcare Heroes – Clinical Individual: Stephanie Friedl, Paediatric Oncology Specialist Nurse
- Healthcare Heroes – Clinical Team: Pharmacy Team
- Healthcare Heroes – Non-clinical Individual: Jessica Bannister, Domestic
- Healthcare Heroes – Non-clinical Team: Data Security and Protection Team
- Trust Values Award: Cardiology Ward
- Patient’s Choice Award: Trisha Mahon, Paediatric Advanced Clinical Practitioner
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr Stuart Hutchinson, Elderly Care Consultant, Dr Rosalind Leslie, Chief AHP and Dr Michael Norell, Consultant Cardiologist
- Chief Executive’s Award: Dr Stuart Hutchinson, Elderly Care Consultant
- Chair’s Award: Professor David Loughton CBE, Group Chief Executive
Congratulations to all our winners and finalists!
A big thank you to our sponsors: System C, Vital Energi, and the RWT Charity, for their support in making the evening possible. A raffle hosted by the RWT Charity raised an additional £1,200, which will be used to further support staff and patients at the Trust.
